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Tuesday Poll: Will You Buy NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD?

On Sunday evening, NVIDIA made the largest splash of CES with the unveiling of Project SHIELD, a cloud based mobile gaming system that allows users to play PC titles right on the device. NVIDIA has worked years on creating the infrastructure and hardware of SHIELD, but some are still unconvinced that the device could become largely successful. The reason for this apparent doubt is that NVIDIA has yet to announce any type of pricing for the device, which people have guessed could cost anywhere from $199 all the way to even $499 and beyond.

From the few hands-on reviews we have seen so far of the device, the hardware seems to be of utmost quality, making some other Android-powered gaming systems look rather cheap and plasticy. The speakers are loud, the display is clear and bright, and all of the buttons and triggers seem to be what you would expect on any top console gaming system (Xbox 360, PS3) on the market today.

So, without knowing how much it is, would you buy one? Feel free to let us know the price point you are hoping NVIDIA can meet in order for you to be interested in the device.

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It’s too big to be a portable device. I would like to see a GBA sized Android gamepad. 4.7″ 720p would be fine, and no analogue sticks — just give me a good device for some 2D mobile gaming. (With D-pad and buttons, of course)

Superguy

For me, it depends on price and the games available. I have a PS Vita and it provides a good gaming experience. It definitely lacks in some areas as it’s not as good as the PS3, but it’s good enough for on the go.

It would have to have some good game support. I’ve found a lot of games on Android lame, so I’d want to see some bigger titles like Assassin’s Creed series, Ninja Gaiden, CoD, etc. Vita’s library is ok … it’s not huge though and is lacking in selection.

If it’s priced well and has some content worth buying, I can see it being successful. Right now, you have Nintendo and Sony. There’s room for more competition.

I transitioned to xbox for a couple of years and played COD and Halo with friends, it was fun for a while. Once I upgraded my gaming PC and got back to playing real games with a mouse and keyboard, it was like a long overdue homecoming. My xbox hasn’t even been on in over a year. The PC gaming experience is far superior to any console with analog sticks.

It all depends on the game. The Arkham Asylum series and similar games play great with a controller (granted, many are console ports), not to mention racing games, etc. For a shooter though, yeah, I could never get used to the dual analog sticks.

ill buy it just so i can stream game from my pc to the shield and connect it to my tv…no more lugging the monster that is my tower to my tv

Joe

It’ll all depend on the games that you can only play on NVIDIA’s device. If any high end Android device can play the games than I don’t have any reason to get into Project SHIELD.

Captain_Doug

For gaming, I’ll get the Archos Gamepad for $169. There’s no way I’d pay as much as the Shield will cost just to play games. There’s no way I could justify it for myself.

Knlegend1

May as well get you a real tablet lol

Captain_Doug

I wouldn’t use a real tablet, except for gaming. The gamepad makes a lot of sense for my usage case.

Jonathon

This is really quite a weird sell, they are going for a market that is more powerful than phones but less powerful than the psvita. I watched the press conferences and the device is quite clunky. It runs stock android which requires the user to reach over the controller and touch the screen to navigate which seems quite awkward. If the device looked like a psp than it would be understandable that you would make it a touch screen with stock android because it seems more natural. Another problem with its design is in order to let the device flip open the joysticks and controls are pushed deeper into the plastic, when they should be sticking out. This could lead to clunky physical controls on top of the clunky touch screen controls. they are marketing this as a way to play games without draining the battery of your phone but if your intelligent you could buy an extra battery for $20-$30 instead of paying $200+ for this device. The only market that would really like this would be kids that do not have enough money to buy a psp, or pay the monthly data fee from getting a smart phone.
I would love an android powered device dedicated to gaming, All the games i buy on my phone and tablet would be on a dedicated mobile gaming platform, however i would not want it running stock android, i would want it running a version that is compatible with the physical controls and an interface that suits it. i would want it to look similar to the psp, this allows the controls to stick out of the device, allows regular android games to be enjoyed as it will be held just like a phone, and would add a sexyness factor that this device doesn’t have. So i like the attempt and the idea, however i feel that the execution of project thor is lacking.

I don’t need a handheld gaming device.
Stationary console though, with creative use of phone and tablet as controller (with motion sensing) – that’s more interesting.
My PS3 perished for the third time (what a crappy quality), now need to replace it with something…

Justin Winker

If they nail the price down to about $199, I would definitely consider getting one. After what I’ve seen from the Tegra 4, if another manufacturer doesn’t wow me with their SoC, I’m getting one of the upcoming devices with the Tegra 4 in it.

Silly Tim, it’s “utmost.” But I know you guys are super busy and doing this all on the fly (thank you for that!!), so it’s ok, we can let this one slide.

FAL_Fan

Hahaha! Ya know when I read “the hardware seems to be of up most quality” I was thinking to myself that something wasn’t quite right there…and then I thought that he had to have meant “utmost”…and seeing your comment only confirmed my suspicions, so thank you for that sir, and good catch!

JMonkeYJ

i was just gonna comment on that. pedants unite!

Thomas

Give Tim a break, he’s probably just tired from being out late at the Bunny Ranch.

I’d have to agree. For on-the-go, I don’t want to always have to drag another device along with me, at least until man-bags become in-style 😉

Droidzilla

Full disclosure: I actually got a man-bag (murse?) for my 7″ tablet and some accessories. I’d still leave it at home more often than not.

Joe

You’ll have to go to another country. Murses are pretty trendy/okay to have in other countries.

Raven

Yeah, I don’t see myself ever buying a dedicated gaming device such as this either. Something like the MOGA or iCP2 that snaps on to an existing phone or tablet seems like a far better solution for me. I would even like to see something that attaches to my Nexus 7 and utilizes the POGO pins as a connector instead of the typical Bluetooth solution.

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